Rome Area History Museum volunteer Dennis Nordeman is compiling notable local news items related to the Civil War in commemoration of the war's sesquicentennial to be shared each week:

To explore further see scanned pdf documents of Rome's Tri Weekly Courier.



Week ending date Saturday, May 31, 1862

Word from the 23^rd GA. Regiment described their march to Petersburg, Va., a march of 100 miles. “Frequently, we would pass groups of ladies by the road side or at houses on the road, cheering and welcoming us. This would arouse our drooping spirits and quicken our steps with renewed energy.”

An artillery company, the Rome Works Artillery, was formed “composed mainly of the operatives in Messrs. Nobles’ Iron Works” for the protection of the city. “The Dutch Doodles may expect a warm reception, should they conclude to visit us.”

The Rome Light Guards, described as a member of the 3^rd Brigade of the 1^st Division of the Army of the Potomac, was still stationed near Richmond, Va.. Their Correspondent to the Tri-Weekly Courier, Editor M. Dwinell, observed “it really seems strange that two such large armies should stand menacing each other so long.”

Week ending date Saturday, May 24, 1862

From Savannah comes the news of an election of officers in the regiment which included the Berry Infantry. Captain W. D. Mitchell was elected Lieut. Col. and Capt. J.C. Lamb was elected major. [ref]

The Floyd Guards will become a part of the 1^st Georgia Regiment and, it is thought, will be deployed to Mobile in early June. The Freemen of Floyd were to leave for camp at Cartersville on May 24. Lieut. A. F. Bale has been in town for a few weeks purchasing horses for the Sardis Volunteers as that company had been changed to a cavalry unit.

“Well authenticated reports” reached Rome that the Yankees had crossed the Tennessee river at Guntersville. [ref] Efforts continued under the leadership of D. R. Mitchell to formalize and equip militia companies in each of the militia districts for home defense.

The fifth soldiers supply car was being readied to transport clothing and “other little articles that will cheer their spirits and add to their comfort” to the 8^th Regiment in Richmond.

Week ending date Saturday, May 17, 1862

President Davis, by proclamation, called all citizens to “national religious solemnities” on Friday May 16. Because of that the Rome Tri-Weekly Courier did not publish a Saturday edition. [ref] The Mayor of Rome, T. J. Word, requested that Romans observe the day by “suspending all secular pursuits, and in humble confession of our sins, individual and national, to Almighty God, and by supplicating His merciful protection from our enemies…”

Issac W. Hume, a member of Yeiser’s Light Battery returned to Rome this week authorized to recruit an artillery battery.

Week ending date Saturday, May 10, 1862

A long letter from the 8^th Georgia regiment described their continuing confrontations with Federal troops. They were impressed by the discipline and shooting accuracy of the enemy. At one point, under a flag of truce, they returned the bodies of the Union soldiers who dies near their trenches as they “had become a most disagreeable nuisance."

The Cherokee Artillery reported on April 25^th that Captain Yeiser and thirty members of their company served as intermediaries to deliver a Confederate response to a Union communication. They described the encounter; “with a hearty grasp we shake the hand of our foe and chat together as friend with friend. Bye and bye we part, perhaps, never to meet again, until arrayed face to face as contending foes upon the field of strife…”

On April 28^th they were engaged in a battle with those troops. But were able to repulse their advance.

The results of the County Meeting about forming companies for home defense. The eleven militia districts each formed committees to report the number of men that can be enrolled and the arms inventory that would be available for home defense. 

Rumors continue to fly about and the Rome Light Guards reported hearing that “Rome was now in the possession of the enemy.”

Week ending date Saturday, May 3, 1862

The 8th Georgia Regiment (Rome Light Guards) was engaged in a skirmish with Federal troops that tried to over run the trenches occupied by the 5th N. C. Regiment. Later in the week they reported their condition; ”Beside the great fatigue to which they are sub-jected, the want of sleep and exposure, the most trying of all is the continual expectation of an attack, which seems imminent all the time… we have been under this excitement nine days. All this time rations have been both poor and scanty…”

“A Regiment of Alabamians…who were in camp of instructions at Warrenton, Ala., and were compelled to leave on account of the proximity of the Doodles” reach Rome Friday aboard the steamers Alfarata and Cherokee.

The Cherokee Artillery at Cumberland Gap reported their position as “on the frontier of a border state, amidst a disaffected portion of the people, apparently flanked by the advanc-ing armies of the Federals in Virginia and Tennessee, and with a large force of the enemy encamped a short distance from us, it would be surprising to any of us if another effort is not speedily made to ‘wipe us out’..”

Click here to read 150 years ago in April 1862.